dumb, but necessary. How do you attach the front license plate?
 

I didn't have this problem with my wife's 81 300D, but when I tried to put the new license plate on my daughters' 82 240 last night, I ran into a problem. Even though the holes through the rubber trim on the front bumper are the usual size for normal lic. plate bolts, the holes in the bumper looked as if they were made for (or from) drywall screws. How does everyone else attach their front plates? Why are there not any regular holes already? Is it just a case of drilling new holes? The PO actually left a screw tip in one hole:mad:. Thanks, Lee

Does your car have a bracket attached to the bumper?

Tom W

Like my W124, mine did not come with a front plate bracket (some states didn't require front plates). So I glued 2 small locknuts on the inside of the rubber bumper insert and then re-mounted the insert back onto the front bumper. I then used short bolts and tightened them to the locknuts to fasten the plate (and plate frame). This has held so far, considering that I performed this job in 1998!

I used the following to mount my front license plate. Worked great.

http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?p=1071742

Thanks for the replies, everybody! I feel better now that i've gotten some feedback. Nobody even replied on the other forum. I was about ready to drill 3/8 holes and stick some of the cheap plastic deals in there, but these two ideas sound good to me. Due to the temp here right now, gluing might not work out, but on the other hand if I can't find the nutserts by Saturday, I'll be trying it. I had never thought about just attaching it to the rubber. Plus I still have half of a rusted screw to get out of the left one. The guy really wanted his plates worse than I thought. I guess when I asked him if I could leave them on for the 60 mile drive home, he must have gotten spooked. Oh well. Thanks again for the ideas, folks! I do appreciate it!

I have brackets if you decide you need one.

Tom W

I think Texas requires front plate, because when I registered my car they gave me two plates.

True. Texas does require front plates. I don't run fronts on the ML or the CLK (and didn't on the SL and W124 for awhile), and never got any flak from the local law enforcement.

But for some reason, every pre-owned we picked up from the lot was absent of the front plate. The SL and the CLK had a front bracket buried somewhere in the trunk or jump seat areas, but neither had an associated front plate. The W124 came with neither a front plate nor bracket.

I finally got a front plate for the W124 when the updated Texas plates showed up in the mail. I figure as the daily beater, it should be compliant...

If "Duct Tape" doesn't work, I don't know what to tell you...LOL

Nick

The front mount actually bolts to the bottom of the bumper. Look underneath there - you'll see the holes.

Here's a mounting bracket on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260209235329

I will sell mine for a lot less.

Tom W